THE LIFE OF MALCOM X , (PART 2)

N INETY DAYS:

Successful as he was, Malcom’s rising popularity and growing influence began to ruffles a few feathers and provoked some discontent from within the movement. Some members began to suspect that Malcom was becoming even more influential than their leader, Elijah Muhammad. This jealousy and resentment would be the cause of a major rift between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad.

On December the 1st 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in broad daylight. The nation was in deep mourning. In an interview following the assassination, when asked what his opinions were on the assassination of President Kennedy, Malcolm’s response was frank and unapologetic. He expressed his opinion that it was a case of “chickens coming home to roost”. 

This statement prompted a series of reactions from across America and from within the Nation of Islam itself. Malcolm X was condemned by the Nation of Islam and was banned from giving any public lectures for ninety days. Malcolm X now found himself isolated, silenced and abandoned, by his own brothers.

CROSSING THE RUBICON:

In March 1964, within a few month of having been silenced by Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X publicly announced his official departure from the Nation of Islam. Malcolm also expressed an earnest desire to collaborate with other civil rights leaders and groups. He then established - The Organization for Afro-American Unity - and founded the Muslim Mosque Incorporated. Soon after his exit from the NOI, several Sunni Muslims encouraged Malcolm X to abandon the false doctrines of the NOI and to learn about true Islam. Malcolm accepted their invitation and after careful contemplation and consideration, he embraced orthodox Islam

FROM MECCA WITH LOVE:

In April 1964, Malcolm X embarked on the Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to the heartland of Islam, in Mecca - modern day Saudi Arabia.

A day after his arrival in Jeddah, Malcolm X was informed that crown Prince Faisal (later to become King Faisal of Saudi Arabia) had extended a personal invite, welcoming Malcolm as an honored guest of the kingdom and in a gesture of brotherhood and kindness, Malcolm was entertained and hosted by Prince Faisal, following the Hajj ceremonies.

Soon after his enlightened journey to Mecca, Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabbazz, as he now came to be known in the Muslim world, embarked on a trail blazing tour of Africa. During these visits he met officials, gave interviews, spoke on national television and on radio stations in various countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Senegal, Liberia, Algeria and Morocco.

Presidents Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria had each invited Malcolm X to serve as a minister in their governments. 

Following a speech at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, the Muslim Students Association honored Malcolm with the Yoruba name Omowale, which means “the son who has returned home”. By the time Malcolm left Africa, he had met with most of the continent’s leaders.

 In November 1964, on his way home from Africa, Malcolm X stopped in Paris where he delivered a lecture at the Salle de la Mutualité. A week later, Malcolm X flew to the United Kingdom and on December the 3rd, he participated in a debate at the Oxford Union. Interest in the debate was so high that it was televised across the nation, by the BBC

Malcolm’s reach and influence had outgrown the racial boundaries set by the Nation of Islam, he was no longer just a civil rights activist, now he became a human rights activist.

Malcom X had expressed his desire to work with other organizations and leaders in order to present a legal case at the international court for human rights, in an unprecedented effort to bring charges against the United States, for its gross human rights violations against the poor marginalized and brutalized African American minority.

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X met before a press conference following the senate debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This meeting marked the start of what many people saw as a bright prospect for a golden union between the two leaders, and a joint effort to cooperate and collaborate with one another.

MALCOLM THE MAN:

Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabbazz was remarkably charismatic, he was an eloquent orator and had an impressive physical presence. At six foot three inches tall, he had an imposing yet gentle composure. One journalist described him as;

“Mesmerizingly handsome and always spotlessly well-groomed” 

In 1955, Betty Sanders met Malcolm X after one of his lectures. She would soon be attending his lectures more regularly. Yet although they had never discussed marriage before, Malcolm X unexpectedly proposed to Sister Betty over the phone, in January 1958, they were married only two days later and became the proud parents to six beautiful daughters.

MALCOM X with his daughters

AS THE SUN SETS :

 Malcolm’s departure from the Nation of Islam had been preceded by growing tensions between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, particularly over rumors concerning Elijah Muhammad’s adulterous relationships with some of his teenage secretaries. After first ignoring the rumors, Malcolm’s suspicions were confirmed when he spoke to Elijah Muhammad’s own son, Wallace Muhammad. 

The suspicions were also validated by the testimonies of some of the young women who had been sexually exploited, by Elijah Muhammad himself.

But by now there were rumors circulating that highly placed members of the NOI were plotting to kill Malcolm X. The strains between Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam increased and soon both public and private threats were being made. In February 1964, an attempt was made to wire Malcolm’s car with explosives, but it was unsuccessful

In the weeks and months to come, Malcolm’s wife would receive a string of anonymous phone calls. Each one delivering blood curdling threats. On June the 8th 1964, FBI surveillance recorded a man calling Malcolm X’s home and instructing Sister Betty to tell her husband that; 

“He’s as good as dead"

Also in June 1964, the Nation of Islam sued Malcolm X and attempted to claim his residence in Queens [New York]. Sadly, Malcolm lost his home and the entire family was ordered to vacate the premises, but the Nation of Islam were not yet satisfied. So on February 14th in 1965, Malcolm’s home was burned to the ground, all of his children were asleep at the time.

By the Divine Grace of God, Malcolm X and his family survived the attempt, however despite the overwhelming evidence that was available, no one was charged or brought to justice. This was deeply reminiscent of Malcolm’s childhood experience, three decades into the tragic past.

The following week, on February the 21st in 1965, during the final hour of his life. Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabbaz was preparing to deliver a lecture in front of the - Organization of Afro-American Unity - in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom.

In fact, the night before he was due to deliver this lecture, Malcolm X felt uneasy about the event. He had called his wife and the children, telling them to come and visit him the very next day. This was unusual, as by now he was so aware of the imminent threat to his life that he would strictly forbid his family from attending any of his public meetings, but not on this occasion.

Soon after he had greeted the audience, there were screams and distressed voices echoed throughout the hall. An unidentified man seated in the front row then rushed forward and shot Malcolm once in the chest, with a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun. Two other men then charged onto the stage and fired semi-automatic handguns, fatally hitting Malcolm several times at close range.

Malcolm X was pronounced dead at 3:30pm, shortly after arriving at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. On Friday afternoon, his funeral rites and prayers were performed in accordance to orthodox Islamic teachings, by Sheikh Ahmad Hassan, a Sunni cleric who had travelled to the US to serve as Malcolm’s spiritual guide and teacher in the final months of his life.

Malcolm died in front of his wife and children, but even in his final moments, he stood before the world fearlessly and selflessly. Courageously fighting to restore the principles of Justice, Liberty and equality. 

THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM X:

At 39 years old, Malcolm X had lived several lives and experienced several radical but profound transformations in his opinions and convictions. He went from a criminal operating in Harlem’s underworld, to becoming a world class advocate for justice. His career unfolded while he was a physical prisoner, but his achievements blossomed when he became a liberator of hearts and an emancipator of minds. His ultimate message grew from that of a Nationalist to the call of a Universalist.

Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabbazz opened America’s eyes to the message of Islam, his example opened many hearts to the collective call of brotherhood. His biography demonstrates the universality of Islam for all people, regardless of race or status.

Finally, he rejected racism and embraced racial equality. He submitted himself, in humility and dedication, to The One and Only, God

Posted by : HAFIDH KINDAMBA 3:40 AM Tags : EDUCATION , POLITICS

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